Golf game



C.,A. ROLFE.

GOLF GAME.

APPLICATIONA FILED APR.22, 1918.

` 1,338,963. Patented May 4,1920.

' /wmfomgy,

" UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE,

CHARLES A. RoLFE, or REDLANDS, CALIFORNIA.

` Applicationlled April 22, 1918. Serial No.- 236,016.

To all w hom t may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES A. ROLFE, citizen of the United States, residing at Redlands, in the county of San Bernardino,

' State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements iny Golf Games, of which the following is a specification.

This invention. relates to golf games and relates particularly to a game of golf which maybe played within a restricted space. It further relates more particularly to a game aforjding'putting 'practice for the standard outdoor game of golf.

In my new game of golf I utilize a balltrap similar-to that shown and described in my U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,208,838, dated Dec. 19, 1916;and I use this trap in conjunction and combination with a playing surface laidy out and played upon invsuch a manner'as toalford a Zestful game and also vto afford excellent putting practice.

10 at one end on which the canvas may be rolled, and adapted to forma back stop b ehind the trap T.

l The target, which surrounds lthe object (the trap) at which the ball is putted and in which targetthe ball must come'to rest in order to count. at all, comprises an outer square surface ll and then'a series of e011-,

centric annular surfaces 12, 13 and 14 and an inner circular surface or space l5, which space 15 is occupied by the trap T. These spaces may be delineated upon the canvas surface by having their outlines painted or otherwise colored or marked, as indicated at 20; or the different surfaces may be colored in different colors. At a distance of say 45 inches from the target there is a tee position 25, marked by a colored circle, or some similar marking, and preferably with a lineor band of color or other marking at 26 immediately behind. At a distance of say 90 inches there is a similar tee position and then againthere may be the same at a distance ofsay 130 inches. Shots are made at the'trap in the center of the target from the various tees.l Various `methods may be used for-scoring; preferably a method which will ,give the highest ,numberof points forv the performance which is best when judged' from the standpoint of standard golf play. Thus the following method may beused: A game may be played by taking a certain -4 Specification of Letters Patent. Patented hIay 4, 1920.

number of shots from each tee, say five shots from each tec, and then totaling the number of points obtained. If the ball lies outside the target it counts for nothing; and as many points are counted as are indicated on the several target spaces, depending upon which target space the ball comes to rest on.

If the ball is putted into lthe trap, it counts for the maximum of live points. If, however, the ball is putted too hard, andv upsets the putltilng trap, it then counts for nothing.`

e catch and hold any ball coming at proper speed within its boundary; and itis-preferputting .trap is so-constructed as to i ablymade ofi-the same diameter as a standv ard golf hole. lThe general constructionpg and operationof this putting trap are seth forth in'my Letters Patent hereinbefore referred to. If the ball is putted so hard that it would pass over the standard golf hole, then it will 'alsooverturn the trap; in which case the putt counts for nothing. The trap comprises a suitable circular head or framework 30 carrying a series of pendant wires or the like 31 inside a rim 32. The framework 30 is carried on a column or post 33 carried on base 34; and the pendants are carried at such a height that their lower ends are struck and swung inwardly by al ball, allowing the ball to pass inwardly in side .the ring of pendants. However, the pendants cannot swing outwardly (due to the rim 32) and a ball which has once passed inside the ring of pendants cannot pass out of the trap again unless it is traveling with such saeed andv force as to overturn the he base 34 is made of just thetrap. proper size to allow the trap to be overturned when the ballis traveling-with such speed and force that it would ordinarily pass over the standard golf hole. fFurthermore, the

trap will not catch a ball which would in the standard game rim the hole.

It will be seen that my game comprises essentiallythe combination of a surface hav- .ing superlicial markings and delineations` into which a ball may be rolled, and having also at its center, or objective point, a trap which will trap the ball if it is putted at the trap and at proper speed; this trap having also the faculty of releasing the'ball (by upsetting) if the ball is putted with too great force. It is to this combination that the followin claims are generally directed, Without eing specifically or entirely limited to the particular details herein set forth.

Having described a preferred form of my invention, I claim:

1. In combination, a flat flexible playing surface, a mechanical trapping means for a ball situated on said surface and being en tirely above said surface, said trapping means being adapted to release a ball if driven .therein with a force exceeding a predetermined degree, markings on said surface surrounding the trapping means and delineating objective surfaces into which a ball may be rolled, and markings at Adifferently spaced points from said trapping means to indicate tee positions for a ball.

2. In combination, a flat flexible playing surface adapted to be compactly rolled and having thereon markings delineating objective surfaces into which a ball may be rolled and a mechanical trapping means for a ball situated Within said delinea-ted surfaces and entirely above said playing surface and being freely removable therefrom, said mechanical trapping means being capable of releasing such ball if driven into it with an excessive force.

3. In combination, a flat flexible playing surface adapted to be compactly rolled, a removable mechanical trapping means for a ball situated on and entirely above said sur- 

